MZ's 1954 Mint Set - The Current Finest
The cool thing about collecting mint or proof sets is that you aren't limited to one denomination. In the 1954 Mint Set there are five different denominations from three different mints, with four different presidents and one early history-maker depicted on the obverses of the coins. Say hello to Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Washington and Franklin! The 1954 Mint Set is 50 years old this year and is a great example of mid-Century United States coinage. Congratulations to MZ, who has reached the #1 spot. Click here to view.

The Euros Visit Long Beach! The Euro was formally introduced on January 1, 2002 as the single European currency with eight different coin denominations: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50-cents, and 1 and 2 Euros. Each denomination has its own, common design, but each country has its own reverse designs for the Euro coinage. Most of the 15 countries now using the Euro already are issuing or planning to issue official mint and proof sets making these coins very highly collectible. At the Long Beach Show, PCGS will have a display of the new European coinage. These coins are not only historic, but in many cases incredibly beautiful. Stop by booth #807 and take a look at what some collectors are calling the next hot area in numismatics.

A special thanks to the owners of the Joshua II Collection and the Apollo Collection for allowing PCGS to display their awesome sets at last week's FUN show. These sets are magnificent and wowed not only other Mercury dime collectors, but all collectors who were fortunate to view the sets.

HAVE YOU SENT YOUR RSVP FOR THE LONG BEACH SET REGISTRY LUNCHEON?
Invitations were emailed to all members on 12/29/03 for the January 30th PCGS Set RegistryTM Luncheon to be held at the Hyatt Hotel in Long Beach. If you are planning to attend and have not yet sent your RSVP, please do so by January 16th. E-mail [email protected]. We look forward to meeting you for lunch!

The following new set compositions have recently been added to the Registry: 1899 Mint Set with Gold, 1899 Mint Set, 1899 Proof Set with Gold, and 1899 Proof Set.

The 1909 VDB Doubled Die Obverse cent has been added to the Lincoln Cents with Varieties, Circulation Strikes (1909-1958) set.

2003-dated coins are now required for the modern date sets and can be used in the modern type sets.

Fun, educational, and sometimes controversial, the PCGS Set RegistryTM Messageboard remains the number one informative coin forum on the Internet. Get involved with other collectors who are currently participating in the Set Registry program or are just beginning. Click here to chat on the Set Registry Messageboard.

Building a Washington quarter set? Go to the Authorized Dealer link on PCGS and click on Modern Coins in Specialties. Looking for dealers with Internet sites? Click on the Internet sites link in services. Search for more than 1,000 dealers in the PCGS Authorized Dealer listings.

PCGS Grading World Series Results
The results from the first round of the PCGS World Series of Rare Coin Grading are now final. Check out the list of coins and the winners of the first round of competition. Click here to read on.

Collector's Survey

The 2004 F.U.N. show provided a plethora of prodigious prices, especially in the Heritage Coin Auctions sale. Which price, in your opinion, was the most amazing out of the five choices listed below?

Results from last survey: 36% believe that certified gold in MS63/better will be the best performer among U.S. coin series in 2004. Click here for a complete breakdown.

What is a "baseball cap coin?" Find out in Lingo, the PCGS dictionary of numismatic definitions. Click here for Lingo.

Subscribe to the online PCGS Population ReportSM for as little as $4.95 a month! Updated weekly, get the latest census data on all coins graded by PCGS.
Click here to get a free peek at the population statistics for Washington quarters.

Question:
With the sometimes huge multiples associated with a single grade point, do you think the current whole point grading scheme is durable? In cases where a liner coin could be valued X, or 20X, based on two reasonable assessments of the coin, do you see too much "play" in the market?

Answer:
This is an interesting question. We had this question a lot at the beginning of PCGS and many dealers lobbied for half grades, especially 64.5. As it turns out, I think the current system works well and is very ingrained. I think the buyers are used to it and don't want to see it changed.

Actually, I personally believe that coin grading is overly precise... certainly in relation to other collectibles. It might be better with less grades. That said, what we have is what we have and I don't see it changing.

Join the PCGS Collectors Club ...Enjoy the Benefits!
If you love collecting coins, the PCGS Collectors Club is for you. Members enjoy direct access to all PCGS grading services, complimentary PCGS gradings and a wealth of essential information. All PCGS Collectors Club Members enjoy access to all Collectors Universe auctions, eShops and messageboards and the eZines of their choice. Joining is quick and easy. Just click here or call PCGS Customer Service at 800-447-8848. Do it today!

Quarterly Collectors Club Grading Special
Way down yonder in New Orleans... coins from this historic Mint haven't been struck in 95 years, but Collectors Club members can have one graded for free during the first quarter of 2004 (from now through March 31). So dig out that 1885-O dollar or that 1909-O quarter or that 1838-O half dollar (dream on!) and send it on in! Each coin will be graded and authenticated through the Regular Service, which takes 15 business days. All that you have to pay for is the postage. This offer is for Gold and Platinum Members only.